Electronic apparatus for making bokeh image and method thereof

ABSTRACT

An electronic apparatus and a method for making a bokeh image are provided. The electronic apparatus includes an image photographing unit configured to photograph an image, a display configured to display a user interface (UI) to set a bokeh option on the image, and a controller configured to, when the image is divided into a plurality of areas on the UI, and a bokeh pattern is determined for each of the plurality of areas, generate a bokeh image by mapping the bokeh pattern determined for each of the plurality of areas to a light source point included in the respective each of the plurality of areas.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2013-0129257 filed on Oct. 29, 2013 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Aspects of the exemplary embodiments relate to an electronic apparatusand a method for making a bokeh image, more particularly to anelectronic apparatus which enables a user to easily make a bokeh imagein various concepts and a method for making a bokeh image thereof.

2. Related Art

Recent development of an electronic apparatus and image photographingtechnology has enabled easier photographing of various images by usingvarious image photographing apparatuses and electronic apparatuseshaving an image photographing function.

In particular, there are increasing needs that a user wishes to not onlyphotograph a subject but also photograph an image with various effects,and add various effects on an image of a user.

Among the effects, there may be the out-of-focus effect. Theout-of-focus effect is a method, while photographing a subject, ofexactly setting a focus on a subject to make the subject photographedclearly, but not setting a focus on a background other than the subject,in order to concentrate a focus on the subject. Especially, whilephotographing an image with the out-of-focus effect, an areaphotographed with light may have a bokeh effect.

However, as to the conventional bokeh effect, the technology that ismainly used involves a filter that is mounted on a lens whereby theshape of an area where light is photographed is changed by changing ashape of the filter. Using this technology, it is only possible torealize a bokeh image including only one pattern in one image.

Therefore, there has been a need to photograph an image having variousbokeh effects.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the exemplary embodiments is designed in accordance withthe above-described considerations and is purposed to provide anelectronic apparatus which enables a user to make a bokeh image invarious concepts and a method for making a bokeh image.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an electronic apparatus includesan image photographing unit configured to photograph an image, a displayconfigured to display a user interface (UI) to set a bokeh option on theimage, and a controller configured to, when the image is divided into aplurality of areas on the UI, and a bokeh pattern is determined for eachof the plurality of areas, generate a bokeh image by mapping the bokehpattern determined for each of the plurality of areas to a light sourcepoint included in the respective each of the plurality of areas.

The UI may include a first UI part which displays a plurality of layoutsand a second UI part which receives a selection of the bokeh pattern,wherein the controller, in response to one layout selected from amongthe plurality of layouts at the first UI part, may determine theplurality of areas based on a number and type corresponding to theselected layout, and in response to a plurality of bokeh patternsselected at the second UI part, may determine each selected bokehpattern as a bokeh pattern determined for at least one of each of theplurality of areas.

The UI may include a UI part capable of user drawing, wherein thecontroller, in response to a first user drawing to divide the imageperformed at the UI part, may divide the image into the plurality ofareas according to a first user drawing trace, and in response to asecond user drawing to draw a pattern performed at the UI part, maydetermine the pattern drawn by the second user drawing as the bokehpattern.

The apparatus may further include a storage, wherein the controller maystore area division information determined by the first user drawing andbokeh pattern information determined by the second user drawing in thestorage.

The apparatus may further include a communicator that performscommunication with an external apparatus; wherein the controllertransmits the area division information and the bokeh patterninformation stored in the storage to the external apparatus.

The controller, in response to a light source point being in a format ofa line, maps the bokeh pattern as a plurality of bokeh patternsaccording to the format of the line, and gradually changes transparencyof the plurality of bokeh patterns according to brightness of the lightsource point along the format of the line.

The controller may automatically determine the plurality of areasaccording to any information of the image selected from the groupconsisting of distance information and depth information.

The bokeh pattern may include at least one pattern selected from thegroup consisting of a graphic image, a photo, a text, a symbol, and anumber.

A method of making a bokeh image according to an exemplary embodimentincludes photographing an image; displaying a UI to set a bokeh optionon the image; dividing the image into a plurality of areas on the UI;determining a bokeh pattern for each of the plurality of areas; andgenerating a bokeh image by mapping the bokeh pattern determined foreach of the plurality of areas to a light source point included in therespective each of the plurality of areas.

The UI may include a first UI part which displays a plurality of layoutsand a second UI part which receives a selection of the bokeh pattern,wherein the determining includes, in response to one layout selectedfrom among the plurality of layouts at the first UI part, determiningthe plurality of areas based on a number and type corresponding to theselected layouts, and in response to a plurality of bokeh patternsselected at the second UI part, determining each selected bokeh patternas a bokeh pattern determined for at least one of each of the pluralityof areas.

The UI may include a UI part capable of user drawing, wherein thedetermining comprises, in response to a first user drawing to divide theimage performed at the UI part, dividing the image into the plurality ofareas according to a first user drawing trace, and in response to asecond user drawing to draw a pattern performed at the UI part,determining the pattern drawn by the second user drawing as the bokehpattern.

The method may further include storing area division informationdetermined by the first user drawing and bokeh pattern informationdetermined by the second user drawing.

The method may further include transmitting the stored area divisioninformation and the bokeh pattern information to an external apparatus.

The generating the bokeh image may include, in response to a lightsource point being in a format of a line, mapping the bokeh pattern as aplurality of bokeh patterns according to the format of the line, andgradually changing transparency of the plurality of bokeh patternsaccording to brightness of the light source point along the format ofthe line.

The determining may include automatically determining the plurality ofareas according to any information of the image selected from the groupconsisting of distance information and depth information.

The bokeh pattern may include at least one pattern selected from thegroup consisting of a graphic image, a photo, a text, a symbol, and anumber.

According to various exemplary embodiments, a user may make a bokehimage in various concepts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will be more apparent by describingcertain exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram briefly illustrating the configurations of anelectronic apparatus, e.g., an image photographing apparatus, accordingto an exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configurations of anelectronic apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment,

FIGS. 3-6 are views illustrating a user interface to determine an areaof an image and a bokeh pattern according to various exemplaryembodiments,

FIGS. 7-8 are views illustrating an image before and after adding abokeh effect according to an exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an image where a bokeh effect is addedwhen a light source point is formed in a line format, according to anexemplary embodiment,

FIGS. 10-11 are flow charts illustrating a method for making a bokehimage of an electronic apparatus according to various exemplaryembodiments,

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method for setting an area of animage according to an embodiment, and

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a method for setting a patternaccording to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments are described in higher detail below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, like drawing reference numerals are usedfor the like elements, even in different drawings. The matters definedin the description, such as detailed construction and elements, areprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments. However, exemplary embodiments can be practiced withoutthose specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functions orconstructions are not described in detail since they would obscure theapplication with unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram briefly illustrating the configurations of anelectronic apparatus, e.g., an image photographing apparatus 100,according to an exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, theimage photographing apparatus 100 includes a photographing unit 110, adisplay 120, and a controller 130. In this case, the image photographingapparatus 100 may be a camera, but this is merely exemplary, and alsomay be realized as various electronic apparatuses having thephotographing unit 110 such as a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a digitalcamera, a camcorder, a notebook PC, a PDA, or the like.

The photographing unit 110 is an element to photograph an image. Thatis, the photographing unit 110 may receive an image of a subject byconverting an optical signal input through a lens into an electricsignal using an image sensor. In this case, a subject refers to all theobjects which include a main subject within the generated photographingimage and a background.

In particular, the photographing unit 110 may photograph light in aregion of an image where focus of the image is not exact, as around-shaped bokeh.

Meanwhile, the display 120 is an element to display an imagephotographed through the photographing unit 110 or an image stored in astorage. In addition, the display 120 may display a user interface (UI)to set a bokeh option on an image.

A bokeh option includes an option which divides an area of an image andan option which sets a bokeh pattern. That is, a UI for setting a bokehoption may include a UI for dividing an area of an image and a UI forsetting a bokeh pattern. A bokeh pattern may include at least one of agraphic image, a photo, a text, a symbol, and a number. For example, thebokeh pattern may be a graphic image such as a shape of star, heart,crown, or the like; a photo of a person or a figure; or texts such as“A, B, HAPPY, LOVE”.

Meanwhile, the display 120 may sequentially display an option whichdivides an area of an image and an option to set a bokeh pattern, fromamong bokeh options, or display the options concurrently. A detailedexemplary embodiment for a UI for setting a bokeh option will bedescribed later.

The controller 130 is an element to control the overall operations ofthe image photographing apparatus 100. In particular, when an image isdivided into a plurality of areas on a UI for setting a bokeh option,and bokeh patterns are determined for each area, the controller 130 mapseach bokeh pattern to a light source point included in each divided areaof the image and generates a bokeh image.

That is, the controller 130 extracts a light source point by usingvarious modules stored in the storage. As described above, when a lightsource is photographed, a bokeh is formed. A light source point means anarea where bokeh is formed by a light source within a photographedimage. The controller 130 generates a bokeh image by mapping each lightsource point to a bokeh pattern by using a bokeh option which is inputfrom a UI for setting a bokeh option.

In addition, from among UIs for setting a bokeh option, when a pluralityof layouts which divide an image into various formats are displayed at aUI for dividing an area of the image, and when one of the plurality oflayouts is selected by a user, the controller 130 may determine aplurality of areas of the image with a number and type corresponding tothe selected layouts.

In addition, when a bokeh pattern in various formats is displayed at aUI for setting a bokeh pattern among UIs for setting a bokeh option, andone bokeh pattern among a plurality of bokeh patterns is selected by auser, the controller 130 may determine each selected bokeh pattern as abokeh pattern corresponding to each of a plurality of areas.

That is, when a layout which divides an image into two equal parts in avertical direction at a UI for dividing an area of an image is selected,and when a heart-shaped bokeh pattern and a star-shaped bokeh patternare selected at a UI for setting a bokeh pattern, the controller 130 maymake a bokeh image by mapping a heart-shaped bokeh pattern with a lightsource point detected from a left side of the image divided into twoequal parts, and a star-shaped bokeh pattern with a light source pointdetected from a right side of the image divided into two equal parts.Each area of the image which is to be mapped to each bokeh pattern maybe re-selected by a user through a UI for setting a bokeh option.

In addition, when a layout which divides an image into four equal partsat a UI for dividing an area of an image is selected, and when aheart-shaped bokeh pattern and a star-shaped bokeh pattern are selectedat a UI for setting a bokeh pattern, the controller 130 may make a bokehimage by mapping, from among the four parts, a heart-shaped bokehpattern at a part selected by a user or an arbitrary part and astar-shaped bokeh pattern at other parts of the image.

Meanwhile, regarding a UI for setting a bokeh option, a user drawing isavailable. That is, the UI, by using a touch panel, can receive a userdrawing by a user's finger or a touch pen provided outside the imagephotographing apparatus 100, or the like.

When user drawing to divide an image is performed at a UI part, fromamong UIs for setting a bokeh option, the controller 130 may divide animage to a plurality of areas according to a user drawing trace.

When a user drawing is performed on a pattern at a UI part for setting abokeh pattern, from among UIs for setting a bokeh option, the controller130 may determine a pattern by a user drawing as a bokeh pattern.

That is, even though not selecting any one of a plurality of layoutsdisplayed by a UI, a bokeh image may be generated by dividing an areafor making a bokeh image into an arbitrary layout and drawing a bokehpattern by a user drawing.

In addition, a UI for setting a bokeh option may receive a user commandthrough another electronic apparatus. For example, when anotherelectronic apparatus is a user's PC, and the user's PC communicates withthe image photographing apparatus 100 by wire or wirelessly, thecontroller 130 may cause the user's PC to display a UI for setting abokeh option. In addition, the controller 130 may control the user's PCto divide an area of an image and set a bokeh pattern by receiving apreset layout, a selected bokeh pattern, or a user drawing on an areaand a pattern, through the user's PC.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configurations of anelectronic apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment. Theimage photographing apparatus 100, as illustrated in FIG. 2, may furtherinclude the communicator 140 or the storage 150.

Meanwhile, FIG. 2 comprehensively illustrates various elements by takingan example of the image photographing apparatus 100 as an electronicapparatus having various functions such as communication function,visual image reproduction function, display function, photographingtiming change function, UI display function for setting a bokeh option,and a bokeh image making function. Therefore, according to someexemplary embodiments, a part of the elements in FIG. 2 may be omittedor changed, or another element may be added.

Among the elements in FIG. 2, the elements that are the same as thoseillustrated in FIG. 1 will not be explained.

The communicator 140 performs communication with various types ofexternal apparatuses according to various communication types. That is,the communicator 140 may include various communication chips including aWi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth chip, a near field communication (NFC) chip, awireless communication chip, or the like. In this case, the Wi-Fi chip,the Bluetooth chip, and the NFC chip respectively perform communicationsby using a Wi-Fi method, a Bluetooth method, and an NFC method. Amongthem, the NFC chip may indicate a chip operating with an NFC methodwhich uses 13.56 MHz band, from among various RF-ID frequency bands suchas 135 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 433 MHz, 860-960 MHz, and 2.45 GHz. In the caseof using the Wi-Fi chip or the Bluetooth chip, various information maybe transceived after connecting communications by using transceivedconnection information such as SSID and a session key, or the like. Thewireless communication chip indicates a chip performing communicationaccording to various communication standards such as IEEE, ZigBee, 3G(3rd Generation), 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), LTE (LongTerm Evolution), or the like.

Meanwhile, the controller 130 may receive an image stored in an externalapparatus through the communicator 140, and transmit an image stored inthe storage 150 to an external apparatus through the communicator 140.In addition, the controller 130 may transmit image area divisioninformation and bokeh pattern information stored in the storage 150 toan external apparatus through the communicator 140. In other words, thecontroller 130 may control to transceive image area division informationand bokeh pattern information through the communicator 140 so as toshare an image area division layout and a bokeh pattern determined by auser's choice or drawing at an external electronic apparatus includinganother image photographing apparatus.

In addition, when image area division information and patterninformation are input through another electronic apparatus, thecontroller 130 may control the communicator 140 to receive the inputarea division information and pattern information.

The storage 150 is an element to store various software modules anddata, etc. to drive the image photographing apparatus 100. Inparticular, the storage 150 may store image area division informationand bokeh pattern information determined by user drawing.

Specifically, examples of software which the storage 150 may storeinclude a UI generation module 151, a light source point detectionmodule 152, and a bokeh pattern management module 153.

The UI generation module 151 stored in the storage 150 is a module,executed by the controller 130, to generate and display a UI for settinga bokeh option. That is, the UI generation module is a UI for setting abokeh option, which may generate a UI for dividing an area of an imageand a UI for setting a bokeh pattern.

In addition, the light source point detection module 152 stored in thestorage 150 is a module, executed by the controller 130, to detect alight source point included in an image. That is, the light source pointdetection module 152 may detect a light source point to map a bokehpattern.

In addition, the bokeh pattern management module 153 stored in thestorage 150 is a software module which is directly selected by a user ora software to manage a bokeh pattern input by a user drawing. That is,when the bokeh pattern management module 153 is executed by thecontroller 130, the bokeh pattern management module 153 may store abokeh pattern which is selected by a user with high frequency in thestorage 150. Afterwards, when a UI for selecting a bokeh option isdisplayed, the bokeh pattern management module 153 may recommend to auser a bokeh pattern selected with high frequency. As such, a bokehpattern input by a user drawing may be stored and continuously used inthe storage 150.

Meanwhile, when a light source point detected by the light source pointdetection module 152 is in a format of a line, the controller 130 maymap a bokeh pattern as a plurality of bokeh patterns according to theformat of the line, and gradually change transparency of the pluralityof bokeh patterns according to brightness of the light source pointalong the format of the line. In addition, the controller 130 maycontrol an image so that the image may be automatically divided into aplurality of areas according to distance information of the image ordepth information of the image without selection of a layout or userdrawing. Regarding this, a detailed exemplary embodiment will bedescribed below.

By the image photographing apparatus 100 as described above, a user maydivide an image into a plurality of areas and generate a bokeh image inwhich various bokeh patterns are mapped to each area.

Meanwhile, a method for making a bokeh image will be described withreference to FIGS. 3-8.

FIGS. 3-6 are views illustrating a user interface to determine an areaof an image and a bokeh pattern according to various exemplaryembodiments. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the display 120 may display a UIfor dividing an area of an image. In other words, the UI for dividing anarea of an image may include a plurality of layouts 31, 32, 33, and 34which are divided in various types. In addition, when one layout among aplurality of layouts is selected, the UI for dividing an area of animage may include a window 30 which divides an area to display aselected layout.

Also, the display 120 may include a touch panel, and the display window30 may divide an area by user drawing.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the display 120 may display a UIfor setting a bokeh pattern. That is, a UI for setting a bokeh patternmay include various types bokeh patterns 41, 42, 43, and 44. Forexample, when a heart-shaped bokeh pattern 43 is selected from among thebokeh patterns displayed on a UI for setting a bokeh pattern, thedisplay 120 may display highlight on the selected bokeh pattern 43.

In addition, the UI for setting a bokeh pattern may include a window 40which displays a bokeh pattern selected when one bokeh pattern fromamong a plurality of bokeh patterns is selected. Therefore, asillustrated above, when a heart-shaped bokeh pattern 43 is selected, thewindow 40 which displays the selected bokeh pattern may display theheart-shaped bokeh pattern 43.

Meanwhile, the display 120 may include a touch panel, and the displaywindow 40 may receive a bokeh pattern by user drawing. That is, even fora bokeh pattern which the UI for setting a bokeh pattern does notinclude, the UI for setting a bokeh pattern may receive various bokehpatterns by user drawing.

Meanwhile, FIG. 5 is a view which illustrates the case where the display120 according to an exemplary embodiment displays both a UI for dividingan image area 50 and a UI for setting a bokeh pattern 55.

That is, the display 120 may display the UI 50 which divides an imagearea in some part, and display the UI 55 for setting a bokeh pattern inanother part. In this case as well, the display 120 may include a touchpanel, divide an area by user drawing using a user's finger or a touchpen 160, or set a bokeh pattern.

Meanwhile, FIG. 6 is a view which illustrates a case in which an area isdivided as illustrated in FIG. 3, and a star-shaped pattern and aheart-shaped pattern are selected as bokeh patterns. When a star-shapedpattern and a heart-shaped pattern are selected as a bokeh pattern, thecontroller 130 may arbitrarily map each bokeh pattern to a divided area.In addition, the controller 130 may display a UI which receives alocation in which a plurality of bokeh patterns are to be mapped. Thatis, when an image is divided into a plurality of areas, and a pluralityof bokeh patterns are selected, the controller 130 may arbitrarilycontrol, or by a user command, that bokeh patterns are mapped to eacharea.

FIGS. 7-8 are views illustrating an image before and after adding abokeh effect according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7 is a viewillustrating an exemplary embodiment of detecting a light point anddividing an area in an image including a bokeh. That is, the imagephotographing apparatus 100, when a light source is included in thephotographed image, may detect each light source 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and76.

An algorithm to detect a light source may include an algorithm whichchanges a received image to a black and white image, detects an overlywhite area in the image, and determines that this detected overly whitearea is a light source. In other words, in an algorithm which detects apart of the image changed to white, when changing an image to a blackand white image, a part where light is lighter than a preset degree willbe changed to white. However, this is merely exemplary, and thus variousalgorithms which determine and detect light sources from an image may beused.

Each bokeh may have a different size or shape according to quantity oflight, focus, size of aperture, etc. For example, the more out of focusthe image is, the larger the bokeh may be made, and according to a shapeof an aperture, an angulated or round-shaped bokeh may be made.

When the controller 130 detects a light source point, the controller 130may make a bokeh pattern mapped to each divided area. When a bokehpattern is mapped, each bokeh will be changed from the angulated orround bokeh to a shape of the mapped bokeh pattern. That is, asillustrated in FIG. 8, each bokeh, by the control of the controller 130,may be mapped to a star-shaped pattern (81, 82, 83, 84) or aheart-shaped pattern (85, 86) from the round shape (71, 72, 73, 74, 75,76), and displayed.

A bokeh pattern may be mapped at the same time with photographing animage by the photographing unit 110, mapped after capturing an image bya user command, or mapped by the control of the controller 130 byloading an image pre-stored in the storage 150.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an image where a bokeh effect is addedwhen a light source point is formed in a line format, according to anexemplary embodiment.

For example, when a lens of the photographing unit 110 is exposed for along time (for example, 5 seconds), the photographing unit 110 mayphotograph a light source point in a format of a line.

Accordingly, when a lens of the photographing unit 110 is exposed for along time, the controller 130 may make a bokeh image by detecting alight source point and mapping a bokeh pattern to each light sourcepoint, and in this case, a bokeh pattern will be mapped as a lineaccording to the light source point. In this case, in a part where lightis comparatively strong, a comparatively greater number of light sourcepoints may be detected. In addition, when a detected light source pointis mapped to a bokeh pattern, the controller 130 may control that abokeh may be displayed clearly.

In addition, from the part of the image where light is comparativelyweak, a comparatively few number of light source points may be detected,and each detected light source point is mapped to a bokeh pattern, andthus the controller 130 may control that a bokeh pattern can bedisplayed to be dimmer than the part where light is comparativelystrong.

Referring to FIG. 9 which is a view illustrating an image whichphotographs light of a vehicle passing a front side of a building, acase in which light becomes stronger toward the right side is described,since the number of vehicles increases. Accordingly, when a bokeh imageis made in the aforementioned direction, the controller 130 may controlso that more light source points are detected toward the right side, anda bokeh pattern is displayed clearly.

In addition, in case of photographing an image where light moves,different bokeh patterns may be mapped to a plurality of divided areasof the image respectively. For example, when an image area is dividedinto the same size in an up part and a down part, and if it is set thatthe up part is mapped to a star-shaped pattern and the down part ismapped to a heart-shaped pattern, and light moves from up to down, thecontroller 130 may control so that patterns set to each area can bemapped to each area of a route where light moves, and a bokeh image maybe generated accordingly. That is, when an image is photographed withoutmapping of a bokeh pattern, only a part of the image where light existslast is photographed, but the controller 130 may control so thatpatterns of each area are mapped to all the routes where light movesduring a preset time or time selected by a user, and a bokeh image ismade.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned method for making a bokeh image relates toan exemplary embodiment of a case where there is a user input whichdivides an image into a plurality of areas, but the controller 130 mayautomatically determine the plurality of areas according to distance ordepth information of an image.

To be specific, even without a user command or a user drawing to selecta layout which divides an image into a plurality of areas, thecontroller 130 may determine areas of an image as an area where distanceor depth of an image is greater than a preset value and an area wheredistance or depth is less than a preset value, according to informationof distance or depth of an image.

For example, when photographing an image by using an auto focus mode ofthe image photographing apparatus 100, the controller 130 may divideareas into an exactly focused area in a preset size as a first area,left side of the first area as a second area, and right side of thefirst area as a third area, and determine an image as a plurality ofareas. That is, in case of using an auto focus mode, based on anexactly-focused area of a photographed image, a perspective of aphotographed image may be determined.

Meanwhile, using an auto focus mode to detect distance or depthinformation is merely an example, and thus there may be another methodof detecting distance or depth information of a photographed image.

Meanwhile, FIGS. 10-11 are flow charts illustrating a method for makinga bokeh image of an electronic apparatus according to various exemplaryembodiments.

First of all, in FIG. 10, the image photographing apparatus 100photographs an image (S1000), and displays the UI for setting a bokehoption (S1010). Herein, the UI for setting a bokeh option may includethe UI for dividing an area of the image and the UI for setting a bokehoption. That is, the UI for dividing an area may display a plurality oflayouts which divide an image into various formats, and when one of theplurality of layouts is selected by a user, a plurality of areas may bedetermined in the number and type corresponding to the selected layout.

In addition, the UI for setting a bokeh pattern may display varioustypes of bokeh patterns, and when one of the various types of bokehpatterns is selected by a user, the selected bokeh pattern may bedetermined as a bokeh pattern corresponding to one of the plurality ofareas, for each of the plurality of areas.

In addition, the UI for dividing an area and the UI for setting a bokehpattern may be realized on a touch panel, and input of division of anarea and input of a bokeh pattern may be received by a user drawingusing the hand of a user or a touch pen.

Meanwhile, a bokeh pattern may include at least one of a graphic image,a photo, a text, a symbol, and a number. For example, the bokeh patterncan be a graphic image of a shape of a star, heart, crown, or the like;a photo of a person or a figure; or a text such as ‘A, B, HAPPY, LOVE’or the like.

When an image is divided into a plurality of areas on a UI, and a bokehpattern is determined for each area (S1020), a bokeh image is made bymapping light source points included in each divided area to bokehpatterns of each area (S1030). That is, when the light point is detectedby various modules, by using a layout which divides an image areareceived from the UI for setting a bokeh option and a format of a bokehpattern, a received bokeh pattern is mapped to each light source pointand a bokeh image is made.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, first of all, the image photographingapparatus 100 enters a bokeh mode (S1100). The bokeh mode is a mode todisplay a UI which divides an image into a plurality of images, enters abokeh pattern to make a bokeh image, and receives a user command. Thebokeh mode may be entered before photographing an image or loading apreviously stored image.

Next, whether or not to enter a user area drawing mode is determined(S1105). That is, whether or not to enter a drawing mode which dividesan area of an image by user drawing is determined. When it is determinedto enter the user area drawing mode (S1105-Y), the user area drawingmode is entered (S1110). In other words, the user area drawing modemeans a mode of setting an area of an image in the format of inputtingby a user drawing through a touch pad. Therefore, a user may divide animage into various layouts which satisfy needs of a user.

Meanwhile, if it is determined to not enter the user area drawing mode(S1105-N), a preset area call mode is entered (S1115). That is, aplurality of layouts which divide an image into various formats may bedisplayed, and an area of the image may be divided after one of aplurality of layouts is selected by a user.

When area setting is completed by selection of a user drawing or apreset area (S1120), whether to enter pattern drawing mode is determined(S1125). In other words, whether or not to enter a drawing mode whichdetermines a pattern by user drawing is determined. When it isdetermined to enter a pattern drawing mode (S1125-Y), the patterndrawing mode is entered (S1130). That is, the pattern drawing mode meansa mode of setting a pattern input by a user drawing through a touch padas a bokeh pattern. Accordingly, a user may input various bokeh patternswhich satisfy needs of a user and generate a bokeh image.

Meanwhile, when it is determined to not enter a pattern drawing mode(S1125-N), a preset pattern call mode is entered (S1135). In otherwords, a plurality of various patterns may be displayed, and at leastone of the plurality of patterns may be selected by a user.

When an input of a pattern is completed by a user drawing or selectionof a preset pattern (S1140), whether to select a previously stored imageis determined (S1145). That is, when the image photographing apparatus100 includes the storage 150, the storage 150 may receive and store animage from an external apparatus, or store a pre-photographed imagethrough the photographing unit 110.

When a previously stored image is selected (S1145-Y), a previouslystored image is loaded (S1150). Meanwhile, if the previously storedimage is not selected (S1145-N), an image is photographed through thephotographing unit 110 (S1155).

When an image is displayed by loading a previously stored image orphotographing an image, a light source point is separated from an image(S1160). In addition, according to an area set by a user drawing orselection of a preset area, an image is divided into a plurality ofareas (S1165).

Meanwhile, when an image is divided into a plurality of areas, patternsinput by areas are mapped to a light source point which exists in eacharea (S1170). Finally, the image photographing apparatus 100 may adjusta mapped image (S1175). That is, the image photographing apparatus 100may provide a user with an improved image by automatically adjustingbrightness, sharpness, etc. of an image.

Meanwhile, a bokeh image may be generated, at the same time withphotographing an image through the photographing unit 110, by dividingan image according to a layout of a set area, detecting a light sourcepoint, and mapping an input pattern to each light source point, but thebokeh image may be made by capturing an image photographed through thephotographing unit 110, dividing the captured image according to alayout of a set area, detecting a light source point, and mapping aninput pattern to each light source point.

Meanwhile, as described above, a command for setting an area to dividean area of an image may be received, and a pattern may be received, butalso, it is possible that an area of an image may be divided afterreceiving a pattern. Accordingly, with reference to FIGS. 12-13, amethod for setting an image and a pattern will be described in higherdetail.

First of all, FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method for settingan area of an image according to an embodiment. When an area settingmode is entered (S1200), a UI for setting an area is displayed (S1210).

According to initial setting of the image photographing apparatus 100 ora user's selection, a user may enter an area of an image (S1220), and apreset area of an image may be selected (S1240).

In other words, a UI for setting an area of an image is a UI whichdisplays a plurality of layouts to divide an image into various types.When one of the plurality of layouts is selected by a user, the UIdivides the image into a plurality of areas in the number and formatcorresponding to the selected layout. In addition, a UI for setting anarea of an image may be realized on a touch panel, and setting of anarea of an image may be received by a user drawing. That is, the UI mayreceive a user drawing by using the finger of a user or the touch pen160 provided outside the image photographing apparatus 100. When a userarea is received by a user drawing, a coordinate data of the receivedarea may be obtained and an area may be divided (S1230).

When division of an area is completed by a user drawing or selection ofa preset area, the order of the divided area is displayed (S1250). Thatis, the order of the divided area may be displayed by initial setting ofthe image photographing apparatus 100. Meanwhile, in order to map abokeh pattern input by a user to an area which a user wants, the orderof the divided area may change.

Meanwhile, FIG. 13 is a flow chart which illustrates a method forsetting a bokeh pattern according to an embodiment. When a patternsetting mode is entered (S1300), a UI for setting a pattern is displayed(S1310).

According to initial setting of the image photographing apparatus 100 ora user's selection, a user may input a pattern (S1320), and select apreset pattern (S1340).

That is, a UI for setting a pattern is a UI to display a plurality ofpatterns in various formats and to receive at least one of a pluralityof patterns from a user. In addition, a UI for setting a pattern may berealized on a touch panel, and a pattern may be input by user drawing.That is, a UI may receive a pattern by user drawing by using the fingerof a user, the touch pen 160 provided outside the image photographingapparatus 100, or the like. When a pattern is input by user drawing, theinput pattern may be stored (S1330). That is, when the imagephotographing apparatus 100 includes the storage 150, the storage 150may store the input pattern by user drawing, and the controller 130 maycontrol so that the stored pattern can be reused. The pattern settingmode is ended by a user drawing or selection of a preset pattern.

As described above, according to various exemplary embodiments, a usermay divide an image into a plurality of areas, input a bokeh pattern tobe mapped to each area, and make a bokeh image where an image is mappedto various bokeh patterns.

Meanwhile, a method for making a bokeh image of the electronic apparatusaccording to aforementioned various exemplary embodiments may be codedwith software and stored in non-transitory readable medium. Suchnon-transitory readable medium may be mounted to various apparatuses andused.

The non-transitory recordable medium refers to a medium which may storedata semi-permanently rather than storing data for a short time such asa register, a cache, and a memory and may be readable by an apparatus.Specifically, the above-mentioned various applications or programs maybe stored in a non-temporal recordable medium such as CD, DVD, harddisk, Blu-ray disk, USB, memory card, and ROM and provided therein.

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference has been made to the embodiments illustrated in thedrawings, and specific language has been used to describe theseembodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of the invention isintended by this specific language, and the invention should beconstrued to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to oneof ordinary skill in the art. The terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing the particular embodiments and is not intended tobe limiting of exemplary embodiments of the invention. In thedescription of the embodiments, certain detailed explanations of relatedart are omitted when it is deemed that they may unnecessarily obscurethe essence of the invention.

The apparatus described herein may comprise a processor, a memory forstoring program data to be executed by the processor, a permanentstorage such as a disk drive, a communications port for handlingcommunications with external devices, and user interface devices,including a display, touch panel, keys, buttons, etc. When softwaremodules are involved, these software modules may be stored as programinstructions or computer readable code executable by the processor on acomputer-readable media such as non-transitory magnetic storage media(e.g., magnetic tapes, hard disks, floppy disks), non-transitory opticalrecording media (e.g., CD-ROMs, Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs), etc.),and non-transitory solid state memory (e.g., random-access memory (RAM),read-only memory (ROM), static random-access memory (SRAM), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, thumbdrives, etc.). The computer readable recording media may also bedistributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computerreadable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Thiscomputer readable recording media may be read by the computer, stored inthe memory, and executed by the processor.

Also, using the disclosure herein, programmers of ordinary skill in theart to which the invention pertains may easily implement functionalprograms, codes, and code segments for making and using the invention.

The invention may be described in terms of functional block componentsand various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized byany number of hardware and/or software components configured to performthe specified functions. For example, the invention may employ variousintegrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processingelements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, which may carryout a variety of functions under the control of one or moremicroprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, where the elementsof the invention are implemented using software programming or softwareelements, the invention may be implemented with any programming orscripting language such as C, C++, JAVA®, assembler, or the like, withthe various algorithms being implemented with any combination of datastructures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements.Functional aspects may be implemented in algorithms that execute on oneor more processors. Furthermore, the invention may employ any number ofconventional techniques for electronics configuration, signal processingand/or control, data processing and the like. Finally, the steps of allmethods described herein may be performed in any suitable order unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

For the sake of brevity, conventional electronics, control systems,software development and other functional aspects of the systems (andcomponents of the individual operating components of the systems) maynot be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, orconnectors shown in the various figures presented are intended torepresent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logicalcouplings between the various elements. It should be noted that manyalternative or additional functional relationships, physical connectionsor logical connections may be present in a practical device. The words“mechanism”, “element”, “unit”, “structure”, “means”, and “construction”are used broadly and are not limited to mechanical or physicalembodiments, but may include software routines in conjunction withprocessors, etc.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. Numerous modifications and adaptations will bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in this art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined by the followingclaims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by thedetailed description of the invention but by the following claims, andall differences within the scope will be construed as being included inthe invention.

No item or component is essential to the practice of the inventionunless the element is specifically described as “essential” or“critical”. It will also be recognized that the terms “comprises,”“comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” and “having,” as usedherein, are specifically intended to be read as open-ended terms of art.The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, itshould be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms, which are only used to distinguish oneelement from another. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values hereinare merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic apparatus, comprising: an imagephotographing unit configured to photograph an image; a displayconfigured to display a user interface (UI) to set a bokeh option on theimage; and a controller configured to, when the image is divided into aplurality of areas on the UI, and a bokeh pattern is determined for eachof the plurality of areas, generate a bokeh image by mapping the bokehpattern determined for each of the plurality of areas to a light sourcepoint included in the respective each of the plurality of areas.
 2. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the UI comprises a first UIpart which displays a plurality of layouts and a second UI part whichreceives a selection of the bokeh pattern, wherein the controller, inresponse to one layout selected from among the plurality of layouts atthe first UI part, determines the plurality of areas based on a numberand type corresponding to the selected layout, and in response to aplurality of bokeh patterns selected at the second UI part, determineseach selected bokeh pattern as a bokeh pattern determined for at leastone of each of the plurality of areas.
 3. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the UI comprises a UI part capable of user drawing,wherein the controller, in response to a first user drawing to dividethe image performed at the UI part, divides the image into the pluralityof areas according to a first user drawing trace, and in response to asecond user drawing to draw a pattern performed at the UI part,determines the pattern drawn by the second user drawing as the bokehpattern.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: astorage; wherein the controller stores area division informationdetermined by the first user drawing and bokeh pattern informationdetermined by the second user drawing in the storage.
 5. The apparatusas claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a communicator that performscommunication with an external apparatus; wherein the controllertransmits the area division information and the bokeh patterninformation stored in the storage to the external apparatus.
 6. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller, in response toa light source point being in a format of a line, maps the bokeh patternas a plurality of bokeh patterns according to the format of the line,and gradually changes transparency of the plurality of bokeh patternsaccording to brightness of the light source point along the format ofthe line.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controllerautomatically determines the plurality of areas according to anyinformation of the image selected from the group consisting of distanceinformation and depth information.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the bokeh pattern comprises at least one pattern selectedfrom the group consisting of a graphic image, a photo, a text, a symbol,and a number.
 9. A method of making a bokeh image, the methodcomprising: photographing an image; displaying a user interface (UI) toset a bokeh option on the image; dividing the image into a plurality ofareas on the UI; determining a bokeh pattern for each of the pluralityof areas; and generating a bokeh image by mapping the bokeh patterndetermined for each of the plurality of areas to a light source pointincluded in the respective each of the plurality of areas.
 10. Themethod as claimed in claim 9, wherein the UI comprises a first UI partwhich displays a plurality of layouts and a second UI part whichreceives a selection of the bokeh pattern, wherein the determiningcomprises, in response to one layout selected from among the pluralityof layouts at the first UI part, determining the plurality of areasbased on a number and type corresponding to the selected layout, and inresponse to a plurality of bokeh patterns selected at the second UIpart, determining each selected bokeh pattern as a bokeh patterndetermined for at least one of each of the plurality of areas.
 11. Themethod as claimed in claim 9, wherein the UI comprises a UI part capableof user drawing, wherein the determining comprises, in response to afirst user drawing to divide the image performed at the UI part,dividing the image into the plurality of areas according to a first userdrawing trace, and in response to a second user drawing to draw apattern performed at the UI part, determining the pattern drawn by thesecond user drawing as the bokeh pattern.
 12. The method as claimed inclaim 11, further comprising: storing area division informationdetermined by the first user drawing and bokeh pattern informationdetermined by the second user drawing.
 13. The method as claimed inclaim 12, further comprising: transmitting the stored area divisioninformation and the bokeh pattern information to the external apparatus.14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the generating the bokehimage comprises, in response to a light source point being in a formatof a line, mapping the bokeh pattern as a plurality of bokeh patternsaccording to the format of the line, and gradually changing transparencyof the plurality of bokeh patterns according to brightness of the lightsource point along the format of the line.
 15. The method as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the determining comprises automatically determining theplurality of areas according to any information of the image selectedfrom the group consisting of distance information and depth information.16. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bokeh patterncomprises at least one pattern selected from the group consisting of agraphic image, a photo, a text, a symbol, and a number.